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Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 10, Page 10

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 10, Page 10
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periodical Publisher
Irish Folk Song Society
periodical Editor
[Periodical]
periodical Title
Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society
volume Number
2
issue Content
1819(V N SIp.I I IIwas a rhyming narrative of incidents which the singer termed The DonnybrookJig. A published song by that name of the London stage variety, and consisting ofthirteen verses, is quite suitable to the air, which extends to the unusual number often bars.THE EUN AT DONNYBROOK.not so long ago in Ireland, are in keen demand as popular attractions at church fairsin America.Seldom is less than ten dollars offered to a competent Irish piper or fiddler, andfifty dollars is not unusual to a teampiper and fiddler when the engagementinvolves travelling expenses, as the demand exceeds the supply for special occasions.No Irish street musicians are to he seen in Chicago. Many are municipalernploys, all are prosperous, most of them are property owners, and not a few arewealthy.To the enthusiasts this happy condition of affairs is chiefly due, yet there is afly in the ointment. For the dark side of the picture truth compels us to present;paralyzing professional jealousy, assertive individuality, and a consuming desire tosecede from a prosperous organisation, and control the offshoot.No one realizes more fully than the writer the difficulty of creating and sustainingan interest in such work as the Irish Folk Song Society is engaged in. Within thelimits of this great city (Chicago) of two and a-quarter millions, in which dwells aboutone-third of a million of Irish birth and ancestry, the writer is absolutely alone indoing anything practical along these lines. Dissensions, diversity of interests, igno-rance, jealousy and selfishness, all play their parts in rendering ineffective any well-directed effort in accomplishing satisfactory results. We have an Irish Choral Societyof doubtful utility; a Gaelic Society of insignificant leadership; and an IrishLiterary Society, consisting of a Catholic curate, and a highly-embellished letter-head.Better than all, nationally speaking, is the Irish Fellowship Club, sans creed, sanspolitics, sans by-laws; lrish sentiment and sympathy, and respectability, being theessentials for membership. Weekly luncheons, and an annual banquet on St. PatricksDay, with addresses, music and singing being the regular order, and the entertainment,f distinguished visitors being a special object. President Taft honoured us in 1910with his presence, an honour not accorded to any similar organization in this country.It is with not a little diffidence the writer ventures to submit two airs, unpub-lished until recently, which possess certain features not common to Irish folk tunes inodinary circulation. The first, named The Fun at Donnybrook, was noted downfrom the singing of Sergt. Michael Hartnett, a native of West Cork, near Milistreet.Although he remembered the air since his boyhood, the first song he heard sung to itThis strain so charmed our enthusiastic friend, Rev. 1). Henebry, while visitingChicago, that it was not without much 1 )ers11asion he couki be induced to lay downhis violin, although dinner awaited him.Sweet Beaulieu Grove.1fUI Sweet Beaulieu Grove was found in an oblong manuscript hook, on the fly-leaf of which was written, H. Hudson, Stephens Green. (See article on theHudson Collection, p. 5.) This air is a genuine Come-all-s e, but its cadences,peculiarly abrupt and unexpected, endow it with marked individuality.The name Beaulieu seemed foreign to Irish topography, hut investigation l)rovedthat it occurs twice: the principal being a parish in the barony of Ferrard. county ofLouth.Interlined between the staffs was written the first verse of the song, as follows:One evening fair, to take the air,I carelessly did stray;Down by the Boyne, I did incline,To bend my roving way;Where I espied, viewing the tide,All alone as she did rove,A lovely fair, beyond compare,Down by sweet Beaulieu Grove.Both air and song, judging from Mr. Hudsons marginal note, were obtained inSF
issue Number
10
page Number
10
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
1967-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 10

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